This decision to put Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show – and Fallon’s acceptance of the job – is the best thing that’s happened EVER. EVER. EVER.
Ok, maybe not ever. But it’s a really good decision. The video clip is an absolute delight.
Archive Page 47
I’d been saying for months that we needed to get Bear’s locks chopped, but I’d been procrastinating it for even longer. I finally decided that this past weekend was the time to do it and committed to a Sunday morning trip to Great Clips. I’d heard they’re good with kids, conveniently located and inexpensive. Sold. After having told me in December that he didn’t want me to get Bear’s hair cut without him there, AO said he didn’t really care that much after all. Especially when faced with the alternative option of a morning of alone time. I can’t blame him. So, on Sunday morning, Bear and I met Grandma Mary and Grandma Sev for brunch at Pasqual’s and followed it up with a quick trim. I had anticipated Bear would hate the whole experience (the haircut, not the brunch), but she was a total trooper. So brave!
Behold, an overly documented first trip to the salon:
Not a very good before shot
This finger-sucking thing just started that day.
I have lots and lot of video, too, but I’ll spare you.
It actually doesn’t look all that different, but I think she said she took about an inch and a half off. And she certainly evened out the chopped up (sorry, MBear) bangs. The videos really show how nervous Molly clearly was, but she didn’t cry or whine or even fidget all that much. As I said, such a trooper.
So I wanted to wait to write a new post until I had some interesting news to share, but it feels like that’s never going to happen. This house buying-and-selling process feels like this winter: never-ending. We are waiting for the underwriters at the credit union to approve the loan, which feels like it’s taking one hundred years, but I guess it’s only been since Monday. We are working to get all the little things (and big) in our place in good condition for our seller. This includes having a new (working!) air exchanger put in, which was done a couple of weeks ago, some window cranks replaced and some wiring enclosed, both of which should be done next week or soon thereafter. I’d like to be able to feel more definite about this whole move, but it still feels fragile as well as distant.
So, let’s talk about something else…Anyone see Inside Llewyn Davis? I liked it. I don’t think I loved it, but I enjoyed it and thought it was an interesting tale. AO is completely obsessed with the Please, Mr. Kennedy song and sings it every day. He’s even gotten Molly into it and sometimes if he says, “Outer,” she will say, “Space.” It’s pretty fun. What’s not fun, though, is that it’s not nominated for an Oscar for best song. Apparently it doesn’t qualify as “original.” I bet all the other nominees (I’m looking at you, Bono) were relieved to hear that.
Buying and selling houses is causing me a wee bit of financial stress. First, there was the urban farmhouse that we got bumped on. That was fine, but I wish we hadn’t spent $400 on the mortgage application and another $400 on an inspection that did little more than shave a few years off of AO’s life with the stress it caused him. Next up was the offer we accepted on our condo. It was a great offer, but then came the inspection that revealed a few glitches in the place. We agreed to fix them, but spending boatloads of money on our place for someone else’s enjoyment is sad. Necessary, but sad. Now we have ourselves another accepted offer! It’s so exciting, but I just forked over another $400 for the new application fee (the fees go to the appraiser, or so I’m told). And soon will come the earnest money. And then the inspector’s fee. And then the billions of other fees. And then the more expensive mortgage.
But with it all comes a beautiful new (to us) home that I’m thrilled about. Oh, and because it’s so much bigger than our current digs, I suppose we’ll have to figure out how to bleed a little more money for new furniture.
Last weekend I got to go to LA to visit the GAOOG. Special thanks to AO for being so supportive of this trip. It was a great time with sunshine and lots of wine and laughs. I didn’t want to be burdened by my giant camera for such a short trip, so I have only iPhone pics to share. And, yes, they’re mostly of what we ate. You didn’t think I was going to show you the dress we found, did you? Shame on you.
Tacos and flautas!
Nina’s
Our first stop after the airport pickup (holy traffic, LAX!) was Nina’s, a tiny little taco shop in West LA. Delish!
The next day, after sleeping in, we got up and went to get coffee (the GAOOG’s morning ritual involves a trip to Peet’s where, not only do the employees know my friend, they know how to make her very specific Americano. And if it isn’t made right – say because they hired a new employee – they will have it remade without our little Indian having to say a word). Then we headed out for a hike. Me in shorts and a tee shirt, the GAOOG in a long-sleeve shirt, long capris and a hat.
Hiking trail
View
View
Orange tree
After the hike, we headed to Olive & Thyme for lunch and snagged a small table (in the shade per the GAOOG’s request) outside.
O & T
Hummus plate for me, egg number for her
After lunch, we went back to SR’s apartment, showered and changed and headed out for a Dress Appointment. This Dress Appointment was just supposed to be to get the feel of things. We were just supposed to be seeing what she liked, what she didn’t like. You know the drill. In fact, we were supposed to be just scoping out the bridal world so we could go back to SR’s stylist friend and report our findings so he could come up with something perfect (and possibly free). Instead, we found The Dress. Gulp! First dress she tried on. Bam. Nailed it. Done and done. But first, we let the shop treat us to a little Prosecco. Cheers! After such an exhausting emotional afternoon, we headed back to SR’s apartment (after a short stop in a cute furniture store where we saw the First Lady of tv) for a little rest. I admit I snoozed a bit. For dinner, we went to SR’s favorite place, Cube, where we dined with SR’s fiance. I had a super pizza and a side of delicious baby broccoli with garlic. I forgot to take pics of it, but here is the tasty charcuterie plate we started with:
Meat and cheese
Cube
On Day Three, I really slept in. I mean, REALLY. It was heaven. I hadn’t slept that long or that well in ages. Was it the best part of the trip? Nah, but it was amazing. Ok, so day three we headed downtown to the Grand Central Market, a place I requested we hit up after I saw it featured recently in the New York Times. It did not disappoint. It’s a bit like Milwaukee’s Public Market, but not.
Market, as seen from the street
Market sign
Market
Stuff
This is where SR ate. It was super popular.
This pic is for Maggie & Bryan
A little B&W
More market
Market map
After the market, SR indulged me and drove us over to West Hollywood, so I could get a little shot of this. If you don’t know the significance, you should be proud of yourself.
Sur
Sur
After SR made her second of three jean changes of the day, we each got a mani-pedi and I got an amazing brow wax. Thanks again! For the evening, we decided to stay in because we needed to get a lot of wedding work done. We had champagne and wine and tacos (again!), watched Bridesmaids, which just serendipitously happened to be on, and tackled the color scheme, bridesmaids’ dresses, the photographer and the DJ. Phew. It was a lot.
We didn’t have a lot of time on my last day, so we just got coffee, drove around and looked at fancy houses (a hobby of mine) and went to Hugo’s for lunch. If the theme of this year’s visit was wedding and tacos, last time I visited the theme was open houses and turkey burgers. I ate so many turkey burgers last time I visited that LA is now inextricably linked in my mind with the poultry sandwich.
Hugo’s turkey burger
After lunch, it was off to JMB’s place because he nicely offered to take me to the airport because SR was otherwise occupied. I snapped this outside his place, figuring it would be the last green I would see for awhile.
Grass. In January.
Despite the traffic, I can see why she lives there. And despite the cold, I hope she visits soon.
